Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-27
Rsl,fc.ds and state peveloplsent.

The people of this State have come to the
that the conveniences afforded
by the construction of railroads through
sections of the country heretofore sparsely
inhabited, and too remote from the trade
centers to render products valuable without
speedy and cheap transportation, constitute
q most valuable auxiliary TO the building
up of the commonwealth. When the gold
discovery was made, and the immense i'm
migration of 1919 poured in, the necessity
for the construction of transc ontinental
railroad was Immediately suggested, and at
the very first meeting of political char
acter that was held in the Territory.
resolutions were passed asking the General
Government to foster such enterprise. The
first State conventions were held III 1851,
and both bodies adopted strong resolutions
in faver Of the Immediate granting by Con-
gress and the Legislature OF lands and
money in aid of the great work. 1t was
recognized that private enterprise could not
handle so great an undertaking-one OF the
most stupendous in the history of the
Norld-and that without public aid it
would be futile. The feasibility of carry
ing a road over the mountain ranges was
seriously doubted Subsequently the State
conventions of all parties and national
gatherings urged that governmental aid be
extended, and the passage by Congress in
1862 OF the Pacific Railroad bill was regarded
as the most important measure that
had been passed for the welfare of
the State since the passage of the
Admission Act in 1850. The event was
celebrated appropriately in the principal
| cities. A company was organized in Sac
ramento and subscriptions to the capital
stock were invited, but, while everybody
wanted 20 see the road constructed, very
e. 20 i -
pockets and invest money in an enterprise
the successful accomplishment of which
was deemed questionable by SO many. The
men who formed the company risked their
private fortunes in the venture. The work
was prosecuted slowly at first, but when
| the Sierras had been crossed the doubters
realized that the plan was feasible, and
that the projectors had secured their fort
| unes.
1t was not until success had been assured
that opposition arose, largely from the
small political demagogues who seize
| every opportunity for the unfair manufact-
ure of temporary capital, and a period of
| several years ensued when the friends of
the enterprise were forced to combat the
| influences which were actively engaged in
sappiDg out the life of the work at the very
MON ent when its success had been assured,
and when the breakers had been safely
crossed. BY reason of threatened adverse
legislation railroad building in this State
was for time practically checked, and the
people began to feel that the develop
ment of the resources of California
! was being seriously retsrded by the
small politicians. An Intelligent consid
Grafton of the situation led to the general
conclusion that works of internal improve
ment were about the most potential factors
for development, and the policy of our leg
islation, in favor of liberal encouragement
to railroad building, which has led to the
extension of lines into remote sections. has
produced its fruits in the rapid enhance
ment of land values, in the building up OF
homes, and in the augmentation of our
wealth.
The success of the present State Fair
and particularly in the line of the county
exhibits, when compared with the exposi-
tons OF few years ago, substantially indi-
cate that our State is advancing with giant
strides, and that our people are fully awake
to the advantages to be gained by lending
| encourage to any enterprise that will tend
to our common good.-.SGte FAR DAILY.